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Topic: Prince Charles is off to Mount Athos (Read 9948 times)

Women should be allowed on Athos because women and men both face similar challenges living in the same world, and both sexes can benefit from Athos' unique experience.

Athos does not exist for our direct benefit; it exists for those with the vocation to entirely leave the world and spend their life in prayer. Those from whom we, as laymen, are to chiefly obtain benefit is those with a different vocation: priests, bishops, spiritual fathers etc.

[quote author=ÃƒÆ’Ã…Â½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ÂÃƒÆ’Ã…Â½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ÂµÃƒÆ’Ã…Â½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ÂºÃƒÆ’Ã‚ÂÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¾ÃƒÆ’Ã…Â½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã‚ÂÃƒâ€šÃ‚ÂÃƒÆ’Ã…Â½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¹ÃƒÆ’Ã…Â½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¿ÃƒÆ’Ã‚ÂÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ link=topic=9024.msg120670#msg120670 date=1147583168]Athos does not exist for our direct benefit; it exists for those with the vocation to entirely leave the world and spend their life in prayer. Those from whom we, as laymen, are to chiefly obtain benefit is those with a different vocation: priests, bishops, spiritual fathers etc. [/quote]I beg to differ- I think all monasteries directly benefit us. Athos is a battery which keeps the world going. Eldress Gavrielia once said: "If the world is standing on it's feet today, it is because of the prayers of all the monastics.", and I would agree. Whatever life throws at us, prayers are being offered on our behalf, which is why we pray for mercy and salvation "Through the prayers of our holy fathers......"

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If you're living a happy life as a Christian, you're doing something wrong.

George, I actually agree with you. We differ only in wording; I said monasteries don't exist for our direct benefite - meaning that indirectly we recieve the fruits of the prayers of the monastics. There are other vocations within the church that more tangibly touch the life of the average layperson.